Over the New Orleans Pelicans' last two games, they have played by far the most cohesive, well-rounded, and sound basketball we’ve seen since the 2025-26 season began. A big part of this surge has been Jose Alvarado, who has stepped up as the team's primary scoring option and offensive initiator in the absence of Jordan Poole.
Alvarado has done what he’s always been best at, which is leading, encouraging his teammates, and treating every possession he plays like it’s his last. These traits, in my opinion, are why Alvarado is the heart and soul of this team, making him an untradeable piece as the entire team feeds off his energy.
This makes the recent report from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, regarding the Pelicans, concerning.
Jose Alvarado is a name to watch on the trade market, as teams are showing strong interest, per @BrettSiegelNBA
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 7, 2025
“Multiple teams have expressed interest in Jose Alvarado through the years, and third-year guard Jordan Hawkins is a player who has yet to really solidify himself as… pic.twitter.com/RFlCWFQAKb
With the playoffs a little far-fetched for the Pelicans at this point, they may be looking to move on from veterans to gain draft picks throughout the course of the season. This report suggests that if that were the case, Alvarado would have a pretty large market. With him being a solid defender, a high-energy player, a good three-point shooter, and a solid initiator, he could bring a lot to a contender's second unit.
That being said, he’s too valuable to the team's chemistry and future, because whether Joe Dumars hits the reset button or not, Alvarado’s leadership is going to be needed in the locker room.
I didn’t always feel this way about Alvarado heading into the season, but things change
With Dumars bringing in both Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fears this offseason, I felt like there was a lack of need for Alvarado on this roster heading into training camp. However, after a few preseason games, my opinion completely shifted as it was obvious he was still the backbone of this team.
Just look at what he’s done for the team's rookie, specifically Derik Queen. Coming into the season, there was so much pressure put on DQ by the media because of the draft-night trade that sent him to New Orleans. But Alvarado has had Queen’s back, even speaking up to the media, saying he’s going to be a great player and that he understands why they gave up the assets they did for him.
That’s the type of leadership you can’t teach, and it's what makes him so valuable to this team. His counting stats may never jump off the page, at 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc. However, the impact he has on this team both on and off the court, is bigger than the box score.
I really hope Dumars and Troy Weaver keep Alvarado in New Orleans for the long haul. Regardless of what direction the franchise takes, his leadership and energy will always bring value.